My main job was to support a culture in which everyone in the kitchen worked with a sense of urgency, focus, generosity, confidence, and composure. In other words, as the head cook, I had twin goals: to create a radically supportive, loving, and productive work environment and to provide great meals (on time). Neither goal could be sacrificed for the other.

For instance, the renowned Zen teacher Shunryu Suzuki once said, “You are perfect just as you are, and you can use a little improvement.

Leadership is about problem solving and inspiring and empowering others — all qualities that are directly supported by mindfulness practice.

CONNECT TO THE PAIN OF OTHERS: KEY PRACTICES:

• Remember that a leader’s job, by definition, is to cultivate community and connection.

• Recognize the “Four Horsemen” that seek to avoid connecting to the pain of others: criticism, contempt, defensiveness, and stonewalling.

• Practice seeing similarities and offering kindness.

• In conversation, look under the hood of others by asking about difficulties and challenges.

• Practice tonglen, or giving and receiving meditation.

• Foster empathy in order to inspire, and lead with, acts of compassion.

That is, meditation and mindfulness are not sought for our personal benefit alone, and they aren’t achieved solely through individual effort. The same is true of leadership.